The Sheep: An Animal That Has Accompanied Us For 7000 Years
Man has been taming sheep for more than 7,000 years, mainly because it is able to provide wool, milk, meat and fat. For this reason, it has always been considered very important and useful, especially for rural communities.
Temperament and habits
Sheep are shy animals with a gentle temperament. For grazing, they prefer quiet and peaceful places. Generally, they are social animals, who like to flock and rarely alone. In fact, sheep alone have usually gone astray.
Contrary to what one might think, they are very intelligent animals. Various studies confirm that sheep are able to recognize people, as well as other specimens of the same species and the dogs that guard the pasture. Also, like all pets, they learn their name if you give them one and respond by approaching them if you call them.
The habitat of the sheep is quite varied and depends on the breed. Among the preferred areas are the plains for grazing, semi-desert areas, cold areas near the poles and areas not so polar but still at high altitudes.
In general, the most common feature of their habitat is the temperate or cold climate. This allows the wool to grow with greater quality and thickness. Either way, a sheep will be happy in almost any weather as long as it is close to its flock.
The countries with the most sheep are Australia, China, India, Iran, and Nigeria, but sheep live almost all over the world. An average sheep lives between 10 and 12 years. However, when its health is optimal, i.e. with a proper diet, sufficient exercise and a stress-free environment, a sheep can live for more than 20 years.
Morphological characteristics and reproduction
In general, sheep are between one and two meters long and about half a meter tall, depending on the breed. The specimens of the smallest sheep breeds can weigh 35 kilograms, while the largest variety can exceed the quintal.
Sheep fur is known as wool and its market value depends on its quality and species. The sheep’s coat, in general, is light in color, although some breeds have dark fur, which is very valuable in the textile market.
Although they have quite developed hearing and smell and perceive objects even at great distances, the sight of sheep is rather limited. Due to the position of the eyes on the muzzle, these animals do not have good lateral visibility. This feature makes them vulnerable to predators.
Sheep can breed several times a year. Gestation lasts about 150 days (about 5 months). Usually, as with humans, sheep give birth to only one calf.
The sheep’s diet
Sheep are ruminant animals. This means that their stomach is divided into four parts. When a sheep eats food, it goes to the first stomach. Soon after, he regurgitates food, chews it again, and goes to the second stomach. This process is repeated up to four times.
For this reason, sheep usually feed in the early morning or late afternoon. Then, they spend the rest of the day chewing on the food they eat.
As is known, sheep are herbivorous animals. In the wild, when they can graze freely, they feed on grasses, shrubs and legumes, mostly in large quantities.
A sheep’s diet varies slightly depending on the breed. Small breeds tend to eat more fiber than large breeds, which tend to feed on other types of plants.
In any case, a sheep has a habit of consuming a huge amount of food in a short time. It does this mainly to be able to digest what it consumes slowly and sparingly.
Eating habits determine the character and temperament of the sheep. In general, they are peaceful and calm animals that avoid shocks and adventures; they are also very sociable and friendly, especially when treated properly by the owner.
